"The Menu" touches upon numerous themes, including elitism and wealth disparity. Only the "best" in society can eat at Chef Slowik's restaurant, and they don't even appreciate it. Similar sentiments are expressed in "Hunger." Aoy initially works at a small family outpost, serving noodles to passersby. The way the food's framed in the shot looks splendidly appetizing, and the people at the restaurant seem to really enjoy it. But then, there are scenes where the rich slurp down whatever Chef Paul puts in front of them. Not only does the food look unappetizing, but the people consuming it have no regard for the care that goes into it. They don't appreciate fine dining as much as people who are simply eating to live.
Additionally, there's a clear difference in how Aoy prepares food at the start of the film versus Chef Paul. Viewers can see the passion she holds while Chef Paul carries an almost obsessive devotion for getting every last detail, no matter how superfluous, just right. It's similar to "The Menu" in this way, too, as Chef Slowik has forgotten his passion for preparing dishes until he's finally tasked with making a simple cheeseburger. Both movies target the pretentiousness of making food that may be impractical but is held in higher regard due to the status of the person who made it.
It's en vogue to target the wealthiest of society in film at the moment, so if you want further proof the excesses of capitalism are felt around the world, make sure to check out "Hunger," now playing on Netflix.
